Max Verstappen Clinches Victory and Third Driver’s Championship at Qatar Grand Prix
Following the conclusion of the Qatar Grand Prix on Sunday, Max Verstappen secured both the race win and his third driver’s championship title.
Lewis Hamilton took to social media to issue a public apology for his involvement in a collision during the F1 Qatar Grand Prix. The seven-time world champion had attempted to overtake his Mercedes teammate George Russell and his rival Max Verstappen on the outside of Turn 1 but misjudged the move, resulting in contact with Russell’s wheels and causing the crash.
Russell, despite the setback, managed to recover and finish in fourth place, narrowly missing out on a podium finish. However, Hamilton’s race ended prematurely due to the incident.
Hamilton took full responsibility for the crash, stating, “I’ve reviewed the replay, and it was entirely my fault. I apologize to my team and to George.”
When questioned about his relationship with Russell, Hamilton emphasized that their partnership remained intact, saying, “Our relationship isn’t strained. I have no issues with George; we maintain a strong working relationship, and we always communicate.”
Russell responded to Hamilton’s apology by dismissing any tensions between them, affirming, “I genuinely appreciate his apology. Every incident involves two individuals. No hard feelings; we’re here to compete and maximize results for the team.”
Both drivers recently extended their contracts with the Mercedes team, securing their positions until 2025. Mercedes currently holds a 28-point lead over Ferrari in the team’s title race with five races left in the season.
The next event on the Formula 1 calendar is the United States Grand Prix, scheduled to commence on October 22.
